Legislators consider reforming student suspension practices | California Watch

Legislators consider reforming student suspension practices | California Watch:

Legislators consider reforming student suspension practices

by Susan Ferriss

Anonymous

Medill News21/Flickr

Persuaded that school discipline policies are far too harsh, California lawmakers are moving closer to enacting reforms aimed at stemming a rising tide of suspensions and expulsions in the nation’s largest state.
“I have seen too many children removed from school under the mandatory suspension and expulsion regime, when an application of common sense and an alternative punishment or appropriate interventions could have kept them on track and corrected their behavior,” Tim McKinley, a former FBI agent-turned-lawyer in Bakersfield, said yesterday during testimony before state Assembly members.
McKinley, who investigated criminal gangs at the bureau, was testifying before the Assembly Education Committee. Speaking in favor of a proposal to reform zero-tolerance policies in California schools, McKinley recounted the case of an 11-year-old boy he defended whose fight against expulsion for sexual battery was featured in a Center for Public Integrity report in December.

 

Yesterday, members of the Education Committee passed several bills designed to push school counseling as an 

A necessary rewind on a woman’s right to choose | Davis Enterprise

A necessary rewind on a woman’s right to choose | Davis Enterprise:

A necessary rewind on a woman’s right to choose

This photo of Davis families was published Jan. 22, 1987, in The Davis Enterprise as part of an ad honoring the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision. The ad reads: "Pro choice is pro family. No one loves their children and families more than we do. And no one understands more than we that a woman's difficult decision about an unplanned pregnancy is her own." Courtesy photo

By Lyra Halprin

Ten births, three abortions — that’s what I know about my grandmother Anne. During her childbearing years, 1911 through the 1920s in Austria, Canada and the United States, it was almost impossible for women to access birth control.

She raised her children in Cleveland, where the first birth control clinic — a Planned Parenthood forerunner — opened in 1928. A woman who committed suicide by stepping off a Lake Erie pier because she was pregnant for the 10th time inspired clinic founders.

The clinic faced threats from government authorities, the Catholic Church and other religious groups, the same ones who are undermining women’s rights 

NYC Public School Parents: Is DOE's Turnaround Fair Play? The NYS Assembly doesn't think so

NYC Public School Parents: Is DOE's Turnaround Fair Play? The NYS Assembly doesn't think so:

Is DOE's Turnaround Fair Play? The NYS Assembly doesn't think so

by Leonie Haimson

Assemblymembers Cathy Nolan of Queens and Jim Brennan of Brooklyn

Yesterday, the NY State Assembly Education Committee held a rare hearing in NYC on the state and city's implementation of the federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) program, the so-called “turnaround” schools, and how the entire program is in complete disarray.   
The big news is that the city is determined to go ahead withturnaround model for 26 Persistently Low Achieving schools even if they receive any of the federal funds to do so. Turnaround  is an euphemism for closing these schools, firing much of the staff and reopening them in the fall with new names  There is massive confusion and no public input about the plans for these schools, and yet the city seems determined to close and reconstitute 26 schools, like lemmings, even at the city's taxpayers' expense.  Why?  Because they can. See Two Years In, Federal Grant Program To Improve Struggling City 

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 4-12 #soschat #EDReform

The State of States Preschool—and Round Two of the RTT-Early Learning Challenge | U.S. Department of Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 minutes ago

The State of States Preschool—and Round Two of the RTT-Early Learning Challenge | U.S. Department of Education: The State of States Preschool—and Round Two of the RTT-Early Learning ChallengeRemarks of Arne Duncan at the National Institute for Early Education ResearchAPRIL 10, 2012Contact:Press Office, (202) 401-1576,press@ed.govThank you, Steve [Barnett], for that kind introduction—and for the important work of the National Institute for Early Education Research over the last decade. Your energy and dedication to documenting and detailing the state of preschool ... more »

Arts Instruction Remains Prevalent—For Some — Whole Child Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 minutes ago

Arts Instruction Remains Prevalent#151;For Some — Whole Child Education: Arts Instruction Remains Prevalent—For SomeApril 12, 2012 byMelissa MellorA newnationwide surveyon the state of arts education in U.S. public schools finds that arts offerings haven't declined as much as expected, but that students in high-poverty schools, particularly at the secondary level, do not receive the same rich exposure to arts opportunities as their wealthier peers.Educators have long suggested that the No Child Left Behind Act's singular focus on reading and math ... more »

PENSIONEERS, STOP LIVING SO LONG! « Teachers Fight Back

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 minutes ago

PENSIONEERS, STOP LIVING SO LONG! « Teachers Fight Back: PENSIONEERS, STOP LIVING SO LONG!byalkleenThe International Monetary Fund recently said that people are living three years longer than expected on average, pushing up the costs of aging by 50 percent, and governments and pension funds are ill-prepared. For private pension plans in the United states, an extra three years of life would add 9 percent to liabilities, the IMF said in urging governments and the private sector to prepare for the ... more »

What the AAUP Faculty Salary Survey Reveals | Inside Higher Ed

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 minutes ago

Motherhood After Tenure: What the AAUP Faculty Salary Survey Reveals | Inside Higher Ed: Motherhood After Tenure: What the AAUP Faculty Salary Survey RevealsApril 12, 2012 - 11:20amAeron HaynieTwo weeks after the publication of an attack on professors fornot working enough to justify our salaries, theAAUP Faculty Salary Surveyproves that there is no such thing as “a faculty salary.” Predictably, full professors at elite universities earn close to $200,000. (As they should. Compared to the salaries of the most successful ... more »

This Week In Education: Philanthropy: Gates Reverses On Risky "ALEC" Bet

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 minutes ago

This Week In Education: Philanthropy: Gates Reverses On Risky "ALEC" Bet: Philanthropy: Gates Reverses On Risky "ALEC" BetInteresting to see that not that many education types seem to think it's very noteworthy (or publicly discussable) that the Gates Foundation announced on Monday that its November $377,000 grant to ALEC would be its last one. Roll Call broke the news on Monday,and since then left-leaning political sites are all over it. Schools Matter picked it upand the Center on Media and ... more »

Shanker Blog » Value-Added Versus Observations, Part One: Reliability

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 minutes ago

Shanker Blog » Value-Added Versus Observations, Part One: Reliability: Value-Added Versus Observations, Part One: ReliabilitybyMatthew Di CarloAlthough most new teacher evaluations are still in various phases of pre-implementation, it’s safe to say that classroom observations and/or value-added (VA) scores will be the most heavily-weighted components toward teachers’ final scores, depending on whether teachers are in tested grades and subjects. One gets the general sense that many – perhaps most – teachers strongly prefer the former (observations, especially peer observations) over ...more »

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. For most teachers, it’s a ten hour day. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 minutes ago

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. For most teachers, it’s a ten hour day. « Fred Klonsky: Life in Rahm’s Chicago. For most teachers, it’s a ten hour day.byFred KlonskyUniversity of Illinois labor researcher Robert Bruno.Rahm says he is willing to pull back on his plan for a seven and a half hour school day.He still has offered no clue as to compensation or a plan for instructional use.The truth is that for most teachers it is already a ten hour day, ... more »

Reynoso pepper-spray report Long-awaited reports are no whitewash | Davis Enterprise #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

Long-awaited reports are no whitewash | Davis Enterprise: Long-awaited reports are no whitewashbyBob DunningAN AVOIDABLE TRAGEDY… while there’s plenty of blame to go around in the long-awaited Reynoso pepper-spray report that was released Wednesday, the very first paragraph of the report, under the simple heading “Introduction,” said it all … noted the report: “Our overriding conclusion can be stated briefly and explicitly. The pepper spraying incident that took place on November 18, 2011, should and could have been prevented.” … ... more »

When Everything Is a 'Race' - Bridging Differences - Education Week

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

When Everything Is a 'Race' - Bridging Differences - Education Week: When Everything Is a 'Race'byDeborah MeierDear Diane,My daughter and I were swimming in my pond one sunny summer day, and I said, "This is the best pond in the world." My daughter responded (sharply): "Why must it be the best? Can't it just be a wonderful pond?"I was actually slightly miffed, but she had a point. We are (or I am?) so accustomed to assuming that praise has to ... more »

'Bully' Highlights Need for Parent-School Cooperation - High School Notes (usnews.com)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

'Bully' Highlights Need for Parent-School Cooperation - High School Notes (usnews.com): 'Bully' Highlights Need for Parent-School CooperationByLAURA MCMULLENApril 12, 2012RSS FeedPrintThe fact that about30 percent of school children are reportedly affected by bullyingis much too real for Jackie Libby. Her 12-year-old son, Alex, lived a nightmare each day at school and on the bus, where he was regularly strangled, punched, stabbed with pencils, and verbally abused.Viewers across the country will get an intimate look into the lives of Alex, and ... more »

The Alzheimer's Caregiver: Angels Among Us | Maria Shriver | The Open Field Network

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

The Alzheimer's Caregiver: Angels Among Us | Maria Shriver | The Open Field Network: APRIL 9, 2012ALZHEIMER'S AND CAREGIVINGThe Alzheimer's Caregiver: Angels Among UsByEllen Woodward Potts and Daniel C. PottsMy father-in-law, Lester Potts, was a proud member of the Lions’ Club, a men’s community service organization similar to Rotary or Kiwanis.Until he moved into an Alzheimer’s assisted living unit, he had perfect attendance at their meetings for over 42 years.During the last several years of those 42, advancing Alzheimer’s disease ... more »

What Am I to Say to Aspiring Teachers? | IDEA

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

What Am I to Say to Aspiring Teachers? | IDEA: What Am I to Say to Aspiring Teachers?by Kristan Morrison indemocracy.eduAt my university, I serve as the Graduate Program Coordinator for the Masters in Education program. Part of this job entails serving as an advisor/recruiter to people who already have a Bachelor's degree in some other field, but who wish to now earn a Masters in Education simultaneous with earning a state license to teach. Last week, a prospective student ... more »

Schools Matter: Ask Eli Broad's Jim McIntyre for His "research and experience" to Support Corporate School Reform Costs

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

Schools Matter: Ask Eli Broad's Jim McIntyre for His "research and experience" to Support Corporate School Reform Costs: Ask Eli Broad's Jim McIntyre for His "research and experience" to Support Corporate School Reform CostsbyJim HornWhile the local corporate media of Knoxville continues to print any kind of unsubstantiated charges or rumors against teachers, all the while ignoring the grassroots movement emerging against the corporate education reform schools tide from Eli Broad disciple, Supt. Jim McIntyre, the other local media outlets ... more »

PROFESSOR: 'Teach For America' Has Gone Off The Deep End - Business Insider

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

PROFESSOR: 'Teach For America' Has Gone Off The Deep End - Business Insider: PROFESSOR: 'Teach For America' Has Gone Off The Deep EndMelanie Hicken|April 11, 2012|4,340|2900Professor Mark Naison (Youtube/NewYorkRawVideos)Teach for Americawill announce its final round of acceptancesfor next year's corps tomorrow.TFA, which recruits recent college graduates to teach in low-income neighborhoods,consistently makes Fortune's listof the Top 100 Employers to work for. Last year,only 11 percent of the nearly 50,000 students who appliedwere accepted into the prestigious program. So it is ... more »

What teachers know vs. what education policymakers do — Ravitch - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

What teachers know vs. what education policymakers do — Ravitch - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: What teachers know vs. what education policymakers do — RavitchbyValerie StraussThiswas written by education historian Diane Ravitch for herBridging Differencesblog, which she co-authors with Deborah Meier on theEducation Week website. The item was first published on March 6. In their blog,Ravitch and Meierexchange letters about what matters most in education. Ravitch, a research professor at New York University, is author of “The ... more »

Reynoso on Pepper Spray: They Had a Plan, But it Was Not Adequate. And They Didn't Follow It Anyway. - Davis, CA Patch

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 3 hours ago

Reynoso on Pepper Spray: They Had a Plan, But it Was Not Adequate. And They Didn't Follow It Anyway. - Davis, CA Patch: Reynoso on Pepper Spray: They Had a Plan, But it Was Not Adequate. And They Didn't Follow It Anyway.Note: Check back Thursday for video and more coverage.The introduction of the Reynoso Task Force Report pretty much sums it up the pepper spray findings:“Our overriding conclusion can be stated briefly and explicitly. The pepper spraying incident that took ... more »

Bully movie exposes the new cruel norms of a cyber-powered world - Sacramento Cyber Safety | Examiner.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Bully movie exposes the new cruel norms of a cyber-powered world - Sacramento Cyber Safety | Examiner.com: Bully movie exposes the new cruel norms of a cyber-powered worldJoanna JullienSacramento Cyber Safety ExaminerContinue reading onExaminer.com http://exm.nr/I7eIsi“The kids are using the phones to be cruel to each other. Parents if you must issue your child a phone, load it with nannyware to monitor their texts.” Valinda Frost, instructor at Mira Loma High SchoolPhoto credit:www.bravesociety.orgSACRAMENTO -- Sheila Self, Bullying Prevention Specialist of theSacramento ... more »

Katehi Writes Letter Thanking Reynoso Task Force - Davis, CA Patch

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Katehi Writes Letter Thanking Reynoso Task Force - Davis, CA Patch: Katehi Writes Letter Thanking Reynoso Task ForceChancellor Linda P.B. Katehi sent a letter just before the Reynoso Report Task Force presentation on UC Davis pepper spraying ended.ByJustin CoxEmail the author5:18 pmEmailPrintCommentUpload Photos and VideosHere's the letter from Chancelor Linda P.B. Katehi in regard tothe Reynoso Task Forceon the UC Davis pepper spray incident. The report has been widely interpretedas critical of Katehi, the police chief,Lt. John Pikeand thepepper spraysituation ... more »

No Wonder Teachers Are Demoralized

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

No Wonder Teachers Are Demoralized: No Wonder Teachers Are DemoralizedI retired in June of 2011 and yesterday I returned to the high school where I had taught social studies for 35 years. The district is one of the wealthiest in Ohio. Many of the residents are well-paid professionals. Our alumni include numerous lawyers (one of whom argued in front of the US Supreme Court a year or so ago), doctors, executives, a current member of the Saturday Night Live cast, ... more »

Charter Schools No Cure-All for Black Students, Says Study | News

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Charter Schools No Cure-All for Black Students, Says Study | News: Charter Schools No Cure-All for Black Students, Says StudyApril 11, 2012AUSTIN, Texas — Despite being promoted as a viable alternative to traditional public schools, privately owned charter schools in Texas have higher attrition rates for black students than comparable urban public schools, says a University of Texas at Austin study.Dr.Julian Vasquez Heilig’s research shows that, although many privately operated charter schools claim that 90 percent or more of their ... more »

Gates Won't Pull ALEC Grant

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 18 hours ago

Gates Won't Pull ALEC Grant: Gates Won't Pull ALECGrantThe Microsoft founder's foundation promised not to give future grants after a campaign from the left.postedApr 10, 2012 1:28pm EDTBuzzfeed PoliticsBuzzFeed StaffMore from Buzzfeed ›ShareEmail2StumbleGates at an Energy Department conference in February.(Getty Images / PAUL J. RICHARDS)The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, under fire from the left for a grant to the American Legislative Exchange Council, said it won't pull its promised funding from the conservative group.The Gates Foundation